The NHL on Monday moved to close a loophole left in the allegedly airtight collective bargaining agreement by notifying general managers the league would deem re-signing a player following a trade and a subsequent amnesty buyout as circumvention, and thus would not register the contract, The Post has learned.

Tampa has several pretty bad contracts. I just don't know if their ownership would want to spend money paying people to go away. Based on Capgeek's calculator, buying out Lecavalier would mean that Tampa has to pay him ~$2.1 million/year through 2027 ( ). I was thinking they could probably get the same production by signing, say, Ribeiro for $5 million/year, which gives them an extra ~$2.7 million in cap space.

Is it worth it to pay $2.1 million to get $2.7 million in cap space? Teams like the Flyers and the Rangers have no problem lighting money on fire, but I have no idea if Tampa's ownership would go for this. It leads me to think that it makes more sense for the less wealthy franchises to only buy out those players who really aren't producing much at all as opposed to players like Lecavalier, who are still producing, but not in a way that is commensurate with their salary.

I'd be a tiny bit surprised if they bought out VL4 to be honest. He's a big community guy...I know he hasn't produced to the level expected with his contract, but I think they're more likely to buy out Bugsy than VL4, in my opinion...

Speaking on 630 CHED, Winter said the Flyers' defensive system made it impossible for a goalie to see the puck. “It’s terrible in Philadelphia for a goaltender,” Winter said. “They block shots. They don’t open up lanes. Goaltenders can’t see the puck. The goalie coach [Jeff Reese] has no authority. The head coach [Peter Laviolette] doesn’t listen to him. It’s an issue and it’s made it a challenge.” Winter said Bryzgalov told him “many times,” he had problems with the Flyers’ style of defensive play. He said Bryz told him, “‘They pay you $51 million dollars because they seem to think I was good at stopping the puck and then they never let you see it.’

****

NHL on TSN ‏@NHLonTSN 2m According to @RenLavoieRDS the Lightning will buy out Vincent Lecavalier's contract. #TSN #NHL

I don't what he has left, but perhaps with Coach Therrien in Montreal ?

Same with me. I wouldn't be shocked if he ends up back in Tampa Bay in 2015 either. One of my first "favorite prospects" never got to the level of one of my "favorite historical figures", Jean Beliveau. Except in the movies...

Q1: No. They can use their second compliance buyout next season though, if he's healthy and they don't use both this offseason. This doesn't apply to Heatley specifically, as he's a UFA after this season.Q2: No. That would bring on a grievance from the Union I suspect.